RubenD wrote:

Everyone knows buying a sump kit gets very expensive. However, the
benefits are great, from increasing the water volume to hiding all the
equipment.

I was thinking on using a canister filter to pull the water from a 10G tank
to the main tank and a hanging overflow to the 10G.

What do you think the drawbacks are if there's any?

Ruben

There are two points to consider for the work a pump has to
do. First, and foremost, is lift. Second is piping friction.

On piping friction: If you ar going to buy 8000 ft of pipe for
a heating system for building, then you want to buy the smallest
diameter pipe you can get away with to save big bucks. Thus
friction loss calculation are critical. However, If you are
running 7 ft of tubing from a Aquarium sump ...go one size larger
than the outlet of the pump, and friction loss almost disappears.

Then, there is lift: The major consideration for the work a
pump has to do is "lift". Lift is just how high the pump has to
raise the water, measured from the surface of the lower pond of
water to the surface of the higher pond of water. So, to measure
lift, hold your tape measure vertically, measuring from the
surface of the water in the sump, to the surface of the water in
the tank. Three feet(?) three point five(?), this is the lift,
and is what you will compare to the charts that come with "lift"
pumps.

You will find a for instance here

http://www.pondliner.com/PM5.htm

on this page there are flows listed for each rise in feet, for
the particular pump. This refers to the distance in feet from the
top of the sump to the top of the aquarium. notice the flow drops
off as the height increases. This is a "lift" pump.


then check out he
http://www.pondenterprises.com/fluval/fluve1.html

You will notice that they have a lot to say about the
advantages of their filter (prolly mostly true), but lift isn't
mentioned. This pump is designed to take its source from the tank
(not a sump) and return it to the tank (same elevation ), so
there is NO lift to consider. This is what is referred to as a
"circulator" pump.


There are lots of Googlable pages on pumps and filters, and
you will find the difference between the two types;

Canister filter ( and power heads for the most part ) are listed
at "one" flow rate only, This is because, no lift has to be
considered. circulator pumps.

Lift pumps on the other hand, i.e. Mag drive submersible pumps
(and what's that other one that mounts outside the sump? I can't
find it right now). These pumps are listed with a chart the shows
"performance" drop off at increasing lift. lift pumps.

The last thing to look at is the wattage. Yer stuck with what
ever it is,if you buy the pump to do the right job. Canisters
and power heads, 15watts 20watts 30 watts. Comparable flow lift
pumps 40watts, 50watts, 60watts.

Bottom line, yer canister filter is not designed to lift water.
And flow will drop disappointingly if it is applied to a lifting
job.


Hope this helps
Paul